Brook was earlier picked in the England Test squad for the five-match series in India, but pulled out of that series as well citing personal reasons. He was part of the team’s pre-tour training camp in the UAE. The explosive batter was signed by Delhi Capitals for Rs 4 crore at the IPL 2024 auction.
Releasing an official statement on his social media handle on Wednesday, March 13, Brook confirmed that he won’t be able to represent the Delhi Capitals franchise on IPL 2024.
"I can confirm that I have made the very difficult decision not to play in the upcoming IPL. I was so excited to be picked by Delhi Capitals and was so looking forward to joining up with everyone. Whilst I don't think I should need to share my personal reasons behind this decision, I know there will be many asking why. So I do want to share this,” Brook’s statement read.
"I lost my grandmother last month - she was a rock to me and I spent a huge amount of my childhood in her home; my attitude to life and love for cricket was shaped by her and my late grandfather," the highly rated England batter went on to add.
Amid much fanfare, Brook was signed by Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) last season for a whopping Rs 13.25 crore. He smacked a 55-ball ton against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), but was a huge disappoint otherwise, managing only 190 runs in 11 matches.
Opening up about his grandmother in his official statement, Brook said, "When at home, there would hardly be a day go by that didn't include seeing her. It makes me so happy that she was able to see me play cricket for England.
"I'm proud that she could collect some of the awards I have won over the last couple of years when I couldn't be there and I know she enjoyed doing that,” he added.
Brook also revealed that he made the decision to skip the India tour the night before the England team flew from Abu Dhabi to India because he was told that his grandmother was ill and didn't have long left.
"Now that she has passed my family and I are grieving and I need to be around them. Over the last few years I have learned to prioritise my mental wellbeing and that of my family's, honestly nothing is more important to me than family. So whilst this may come as surprising to some, I know it's the right decision for me,” Brook’s statement further read.
Rishabh Pant-led Delhi Capitals will begin their IPL 2024 campaign with a match against Punjab Kings (PBKS) on March 23 in Mohali.
--By A Cricket Correspondent
